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ND leaves Army seeing green

By Anna Boarini | Monday, November 22, 2010

Notre Dame’s 27-3 win over Army was the first football game to be played in the new Yankee Stadium and the first time the Irish have visited New York City in 41 years. Back home in South Bend, students couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

“I though the game was absolutely amazing,” freshman Vincent Lynch said. “It looks like Kelly’s finally lit a fire under the team. “

Some students said they were impressed with how both the defense and the offense played Saturday.

“The fact that we’ve held two opponents to six points two weeks in a row is awesome,” Lynch said.

Sophomore Josh Underhill said he was impressed with freshman quarterback Tommy Rees’ performance. Rees completed 13 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown in his second career start.

Even though football was the main attraction, some students said they found Notre Dame didn’t just dominate in Yankee Stadium — they took over the whole city.

Junior Julia Cancro, a New York native, headed home with friends to watch the game.

“It was great to tour the city with my friends.” Cancro said. “It was nice to see the city transform into one big ND event.”

While the environment was different because the game was held in a baseball stadium and a big city, Cancro said the game felt the same.

“Notre Dame fans are Notre Dame fans everywhere they go,” she said.

Students watching from home could also feel the difference from playing the game here at Notre Dame Stadium or at another college football stadium.

“It was great to win on such a big stage,” sophomore Mike Nolte said.

While the football team took center stage, the band also traveled to New York City and preformed at the game, as well as a pep rally at Lincoln Center and a concert in Time Square.

“The concert in Times Square was amazing,” sophomore Julie Novak said. “So many people were there, some not even Notre Dame fans. It was just awesome to have all these people cheering for us.”

Senior Alex Buell said he loved the whole experience and tradition of playing and visiting New York City.

“Even though it wasn’t the old Yankee Stadium, it was still the tradition and history of the Yankees,” he said.

The band plays in front of large crowds in South Bend for every home game, but this crowd was especially great, Cancro said.

“It was a great crowd of people overall. It was one of the few times people in the city would actually talk to each other in the street,” Cancro said. “It was a great sense of camaraderie.”

Some fans said they worried about the outcome because Irish head coach Brian Kelly announced the team would wear green jerseys, which many feel are bad luck. When the Irish wore green in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl and again in the 1999 Gator Bowl, they lost.

“It was nice to finally win in green,” Underhill said.

With two wins in so many weeks and bowl eligibility, Lynch said he is excited for next week’s game against the University of Southern California (USC).